Open-end ratcheting pipe wrench



May 3, 1955 A. J. BRAME 2,707,412:

OPEN-END RATCHETING PIPE WRENCI-I- Filed July 22, 1952 INVENTOR ALLEN.lw BRAME MyW@ ATTORNEYS United States Patent O Allen J. Brame, LosAngeles,

Appliance Company, Inc., poration of California Application July 22,1952, Serial No. 300,260

7 Claims. (Cl. ill-58.2)

Calif., assignor to Tubing Los Angeles, Calif., a cor- This inventionconsists in new and useful improvements in an open-end ratchet-operatedpipe wrench and relates more particularly to pipe wrenches having pawland ratchet mechanism of the general type illustrated and described inthe prior U. S. Patent to Herbert L. Fish, No. 2,578,687, dated December18, 1951. Various `wrenches of this type have been designed tofacilitate use in diflicult applications such as encircling tubing,conduit, cable, shafting and the like, in close 4quarters where wrenchesof ordinary const-ruction cannot be used, said prior patent beingdirected to wrenches of the socket type. The present invention relatesto a wrench embodying a generally similar ratchet mechanism, with itsattendant advantages, but comprises an open-end work gripping element,primarily designed for direct engagement with the periphery of sectionsof pipe, tubing and the like.

It is' the primary object of the present invention to provide aratchet-operated wrench having an improved head structure andwork-turning element, `adapted to effect a semi three-point contact ingripping pipe, casing and other cylindrical work.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im* proved Work-turningelement having an open jaw area and comprising at least one fixed jawmember and an opposed, spring loaded, gripping jaw member, mounted formovement through an arc which intersects the `periphery of the `workreceived by said jaw area.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a wrenchhead comprising a pair of stampings which when super-imposed, form thewalls' of a housing for the co-acting elements of the pawl and ratchetmechanism, thus simplifying construction and assembly of the wrenchparts.

A `further objec-t of the invention is to provide in a `wrench of thistype, an improved hub and cover plate construction which is rotatablysupported in the head just referred to, by a novel and improvedarrangement, designed to `simplify construction while affording amaximum of strength, `durability and ease of operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ratchet-operatedwrench having a head structure of substantially crescent shape, theconcave portion thereof forming an arcuate mouth adapted to receive theperiphery of the ratchet-supporting hub and wherein the housing for thehead is provided adjacent said mouth, with an arcuate, supporting andguiding trackway for the rotatable hub.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear .as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features'hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designatesimilar parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a top plan view of the wrench comprising the presentinvention, with certain parts broken away or in section, .to illustratethe construction and assembly of the device;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Figure l,illustrating the relationship of the head and hub;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3*3 of Figurel, showing the means for connecting the housing stampings;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Figure l, showing thespring-loaded gripping jaw of the wrench;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure l, showing thegripping jaw pivot; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1, showing theindex lingers designed to .orient the stampings during assembly of thehousing.

ln the drawings, the wrench head is generally designated by the numeral7, and as shown in Figure 2, consists of a pair of superimposedstampings 8 and 9, substantially in the shape of an oval crescent, inplan profile, as seen in Figure l. Each of the stampings 8 and 9, isprovided on its convex edge with a right-angularly directed ilange 10which, when the stampings are assembled, jointly form the side wall of ahousing. The proper assembly of the stampings is facilitated by theprovision -of a pair .of complementary and interengaging index fingersl1, formed in the adjacent llanges 10 of respective stampings, as seenin Figures l and 6. These fingers are arranged to seek cooperativeengagement in orienting the stampin-gs during assembly.

Within the housing formed by the stampings 8 and 9, there is provided aspacer-block 12, consisting of a series of metal laminations, shaped tolit closely within the confines of the housing and of a similar planprofile.

The laminations of the spacer-block l2 are transversely drilled atsuitable spaced points and provided with bushings 13 for receivingconnecting pinsv or rivets lflwhich pass through and secure thestampings 8 and 9. As best seen in Figure 3, the main web of eachstamping is formed with openings to receive the rivets 14 and thedefining edges ofthe openings are dimpled as at l5. The opposed dimplesof respective stampings extend inwardly of the housing and are receivedby the corresponding ends of the bushing passageways in the laminations12, the bushings 13 being of such a length that Vthe opposite end facesof the same are engaged by the inner extremities of respective dimples15, when the stampings are secured together by the rivets 14.

The central portion of the head 7 is provided with a squared opening 16which extends through the stampings 8 and 9 and the spacer-block 12, forreceiving -the squared end of an operating tool or handle shown indotted lines at 17 in Figure l. This arrangement is substantially thesame as that shown in said prior Patent No. 2,578,687.

The concave side of the crescent-shaped head 7 is semi-circular incontour, to rotatably receive the hub or work turning element of thewrench as will later be described, and the arcuate edge of the lowerstamping 9, projects slightly beyond the corresponding edge of the upperstamping 8, as shown in Figure 3l, the periphery of the hub beinginterposed between the extended arcuate edges of the stampings. Thisprojecting edge is bounded by an upstanding arcuate flange 18 whichdefines in part, the semi-circular opening in the head for receiving thecircular hub 19.

The hub 19 is provided with an arcuate groove 20 on its lower side, toslidably receive the complementary flange 18 on the stamping 9 and asimilar groove 21 on the upper side of the hub 19, receives an inturnedcornplementary flange 22 which bounds a retaining plate 23, mounted onthe hub 19 by means of hold-down screws 24. As will be described, thisplate holds the movable jaw in place on the hub.

A series of peripheral ratchet teeth 25 bound the hub 19 and co-act witha pair of paWls 26 which vare pivotally mounted in suitable recesses 27,formed in the concave face of the block 12, adjacent the periphery ofthe J hub 19. These pawls are normally urged into engagement with theteeth 25 on the hub 19, by means of springs 28, the pitch of the teethbeing such as to clear the pawls upon relative rotation of the hub andhead in one direction and to operatively engage the pawls when relativerotation occurs in the opposite direction.

The hub 19 and cover plate 23 are correspondingly slotted as at 29, fromone side of the periphery, to accommodate a pipe or conduit to beengaged, said slot terminating in an arcuate inner extremity or jaw areaas shown in Figure l. Two fixed jaw members 30 and 31 are formedintegral with the hub and their teeth project into the jaw area of theslot 29, respectively from the central portion and one side of thearcuate terminus of the slot 29. A movable gripping jaw 33, having similarly projecting teeth, is located on the side of the jaw area oppositethe fixed jaw 31. This gripping jaw is disposed in a suitable recess 34in the arcuate face of the hub 19 and is movably supported by a pair ofspaced jaw pivots 35, respectively connected to the jaw member 33 andthe adjacent wall of the recess 34, to permit a semi-rotational movementof the jaw, into and out of the jaw area of slot 29. The movable jaw andits pivots are maintained in place in their enclosing recess by means ofthe cover plate 23 as will be seen from Figures 2 and 4.

The double pivotal arrangement of the gripping jaw 33 is preferably Suchas to permit the jaw to operate through approximately 42, with arectilinear movement of approximately 1A; inch. A loading spring 36normally urges the jaw 33 into jaw area of the slot 29, to eifectengagement with a pipe or tube located therein.

In operation a pipe or conduit is inserted through the mouth of slot 29,into three-point engagement with the jaws 30, 31 and 33. The angle ofattack of the jaw pivots 3S sets up a reverse load for the jaw 33 whichlocks when torque is applied. The jaw 33 will not release and will thenpermit a continuation of ratcheting of the wrench by the manipulation ofthe handle of tool 17, the semi-circular mouth of the body 7 permittingthe rotation of the ratchet portion, freely from the serratedcircumference.

In a Wrench such as above described the dimples 15 formed in thestampings 8 and 9, engage the blocks 12 carrying the pawls, and supportthe loads set up in the use of the wrench, through the webs of thestampings. The hub 19 is supported in all rotative positions through thecomplementary ange and groove construction shown and the jaw retainingplate 23 acts as a tension web, together with the ratchet, to resist theseparating forces taken by the pawls and hub in the operation of thewrench on a pipe or other piece of work in the jaw area. f

From the foregoing, it is believed that my invention may be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art without further description, itbeing borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the detailsdisclosed, Without departing from the spirit of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pipe wrench of the character described, comprising: a drivingelement; a Work-engaging element rotatably supported by said drivingelement and adapted to be rotated thereby, said work-engaging elementhaving a work-receiving slot terminating in a jaw area; at least one jawmember xedly extending from said workcngaging element into said area; agripping jaw member; a pair of links supporting said gripping jaw memberon said work-engaging element adjacent said area for move ment into thearea; and spring means urging said gripping jaw member into said area.

2. A pipe wrench as set forth in claim l in which said jaw member has aseries of teeth on one of its sides; said links are pivotally connectedto the opposite side of the 4 gripping jaw member; and said springpresses against a third side of the gripping jaw member.

3. A pipe wrench as set forth in claim 2 in which said links aresubstantially parallel and of substantially equal length.

4. A pipe Wrench as set forth in claim 3 in which said links havecylindrically curved ends; and in which said work-engaging element andsaid gripping jaw each has a' pair of cylindrically curved socketsembracing the ends of the links.

5. A pipe Wrench as set forth in claim 4 in which said work-engagingelement has a body with a recess to house both said gripping jaw andsaid pair of links, said recess having a Wall closing one end of eachsocket of said two pairs of sockets; and in which a cover is removablymounted on said body to cover the other end of each socket of said twopairs of sockets.

6. An open-end pipe wrench, comprising: a driving head having an openmouth, defined by an arcuate wall; a driven work turning elementinsertable in said mouth, said element having a peripheral surfacecorresponding to the arcuate wall of said mouth and adapted to liecontiguous thereto, in its inserted position; means connecting saiddriving head and driven element for relative rotary movement; a drivingconnection between said driving head and driven element; a workreceiving slot in said driven element, terminating in a concentric jawarea; a fixed jaw member carried by said work turning element extendinginto said jaw area; a gripping jaw member; a pair of links supportingsaid gripping jaw member on said Work turning element adjacent said areafor movement thereinto; and resilient means urging said gripping jawmember into said area.

7. An open end pipe Wrench, comprising: a pair of stampings, eachincluding a web element and a ilange at least partially circumscribingsaid web element, said stampings adapted to be superimposed with the endsurfaces of said flanges in facewise engagement to form a housing; aspacer member mounted within said housing; each stamping having anopening mutually registering with the opening of the other stamping; ahub; guide means on one of said stampings for mounting said hub forrotative movement; means on the other stamping for holding the hubengaged with said guide means; an annular series of ratchet teeth formedabout the periphery of said hub; at least one pawl mounted on saidspacer member for pivotal movement; a spring element holding the pawl inengagement with said ratchet teeth, whereby the pawl engaged with theratchet teeth rotatably drives said hub as the housing is rotated, saidhub having a work-receiving slot formed therein terminating in aconcentric jaw area; a fixed jaw member carried by said hub extendinginto said jaw area; a gripping jaw member; link means supporting saidgripping jaw member on said head adjacent said area for movementthereinto; and resilient means urging said gripping jaw into said areafor engagement with a workpiece as said hub is rotatably driven. 'Y

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 747,013Snyder Dec. 15, 1903 1,420,467 Bellows June 20, 1922 1,471,367 ThriftOct. 23, 1923 1,724,491 Mandl Aug. 13, 1929 2,058,855 Chapman Oct. 27,1936 2,185,002 Pack Dec. 26, 1939 2,378,369 Maison June 12, 19452,500,835 Lang Mar.'14, 1950 2,521,419 Sellers Sept. 5, 1950 2,578,686Fish Dec. 18, 1951 2,578,687 Fish Dec. 18, 1951 2,615,682 Stone Oct. 2,1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,561 Great Britain 1909

